Improved velocipede



2 SheetsSheet 1.

No. 93.015; y Patented July 1869.

' iniimi yates @aient @titille DAVID a SMITH, or A sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, Asi-SIGNOR- To' HIMSELF AND NCRBERTILANDRY.

Letters Patent No. 93,016, dated July 27 ,1869;

The Schedule referred to in these Lettera-Patent andfmaking part of the same. n

To all whom it may concern Beit known that LDAv'rD R. SMITH, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, and State of Galifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in V'elocipedes;77 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the' same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention is to provide an im'- proved velocipede, so constructed that it can be easily propelled, and its course directed from right to left, at the willof the operator. i'

My invention consists of a light, oblong, wood frame, .resting on a double-crank axie, mounted on wheels, and having a steering and supporting-wheel at thefront or backend of the frame.

The frame Ais supported above and below by stayrods, attached to the frame, and a vertical forked brace-bar.

The axle is provided with a coupling at each side,l to throw the wheelsin and out of gear, by the same movement that changes the course of the steeringwheel.

These couplingsare actuated by jointed braces and arms, having forked ends that surround the axle, and, when uncoupled, are thrown back into position by springs. y

The double cranks are constructed on the axle, between the side-pieces of the frame, and from them depend the connecting-rods, to which the treadle-levers 'Zire attached; the ends of these leversbeing connected o a cross-rod, which is supported by verticaltarms, attached to the frame.

The drivin g-wheels are held to the axle by setscrews, voperating in slots. i

The naves or hubs are constructed with two circular flanges, from whichl radial arms extend, held by setscrews.

The spokes proper are constructed of wire, andpass through the felloes of the wheel, and back, forminga loop around them, and passing down to the radial arms, around which the wires are tied.

The steering-wheel is composed of a hollow pipe, and works ina forked brace that is pivoted to the front end of the frame.

The axle of this wheel is a' right and left-hand screw, and is provided with a nut-head for regulating the tension ofthe spokes.

Two anges are connected to the axle, which are similar in constructionto those of the driving-wheels, but no radial arms extend from them, and the ends of the wire spokes pass through holes in the iianges, to which they are tied, and are doubled around theinner portion of the pipe or rim, in a manner similar to that described on the drivingwheels.

Referring to the drawings-` Figure 1, sheet 1, is a' plan. 1

lFigure 2, sheet 1, represents a side elevation.

The figures on sheet 2 are parts in detail.

.The frame A is oblong in shape, and is constructed of wood, having suicient strength to resist thenecessary strain, and is vconnected to theaxle by collars B B.

The frame is, however, strengthened by diagonal rods O C C C, extending from a forked brace, D, at the top The connecting-rods are provided with a spring, H

H, which relieves the legs of the operator from the jar Aof the machinery in passing over rough places.

The fulcrum of the ltreadle-levers I I I is a rod, I', to whichthey are hinged.-

The rod I is supported by vertical arms I, attached to the frame. f

In their operation, these treadles act as levers of the second kind, the foot or power being applied at P, and weight or resistancel at W, and the fulcrum at F.

By the use of this kind of lever, instead of those of the iirst or third kind, less space is required, and the motion obtained with less weight of material.

lo the axle, at each side ofthe frame, are attached `friction-clutches or couplings J J, which engage the inner ends of the hubs, whereby the wheels are thrown in and out ofgear.

The couplings are moved by forked arms k YIt, and

-when u ncoupled, are thrown back into gear again by rubber springs L L, which surround the axle, back of the forked arms, and react against the Acollars L L.'

To the ends of the arms are lpivoted double crossbars M M, whichv slide, one on top of the other, inv

straps attached to theframe.

These bars are moved by means of a vertical'canr, N, which works in slots, and extends upthrough a cross-piece and tiller, or 'steering-bal", O, to each end of which are attached ti ller-ropes or wires P P, and conneet withvtheturn-bar, which is pivoted to 'the steering-wheel at the front or rear end ofthe machine, ac`` cording to thedireetion in which it is headed, as it will run either end iirst.

' By this device, it is intended to change the course or the machine, right orl left, by one movement ofthe tiller-bar, .which tnrnsthe st eering-wheeh and, at the same time, uncouples one wheel, and thereby reducing the power necessary. to propel the machine 'in deviating from a straight course, and also admits throwinga larger proportion of the weight upon the .dlivingwheels, and thus permitting the use of a smaller guidewheel, and consequently reducing the weight of the parts. ,4

The constructionof the driving and steering-wheels R VR R'.'s of a peculiar character. Thehubs or naves of the driving-wheels are provided with two flanges -R" R, which are pierced for short" radial arms S S S,

,of drawing the radial arms downward, to regulate the tension ofthe wires, to' prevent the wire from cutting into the feline. Where a wooden felice is used, a metal plate is placed under it, (shown in red on sheet 2.)

The construction of the steering and end-supporting wheel R is similar to that of the driving-wheels, the spokes being made of wire W W, and tied to the two flanges a a, (no radial arms appear in this wheel,) and loop around the inner portion of the rim V', through openings made for that purpose, the rim being a bent, hollow pipe.

The wheel is supported, and has its bearings for the axis, the bent bar Y.

machine great strength, with elasticity and light' weight. Having thus described my invention,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In the velocipedeas constructed, and in combination therewith, the friction-clutch J J, spurs L L, arms K K, crossfbar M M, cam N, guide-wheel V, with hollow rim R' and axle X, arranged and operated subst-mitially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

DAVID R. SMITH. [Ll 8.]

Witnesses:

C. SMITH, E. V. SUTTER. 

